One hundred twenty years and counting since Edison's inventionof the incandescent light bulb.Less than half a century since light came into use as energy.'Light' now finds applications everywhere, from daily life to cutting-edge technology.We introduce various light-related topics to illuminate USHIO, the company that produces lightand looks to light's role in the future.

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The story of light

From ancient times up to the 21st-century modern day,people have sought to unlock light's secrets and turn them to their advantage.Some found ingenious ways of using light, while others have discovered light’s hiddenproperties. As we trace the relationship between light and humanity, we will introducethe technologies and thoughts of these forerunners, Ushio’s predecessors.

Said capable of burning ships by reflected light, and producing rays so powerful they could be seen from 50 kilometers away, the Pharos of Alexandria was a 130-meter tall lighthouse that was constructed in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in the 3rd century B.C.By legend, the sunlight reflected by its mirror could char wooden ships, and sailors could see its light even 50 kilometers out to sea.Of course, the legends are viewed with some skepticism.However, no one doubts that people have been using various means to collect and use light since ancient times.Who can say that the Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was not the origin of some of today’s optical technologies?

Newton’s Fascination with Light

Discovery of light’s color spectrum using a prism

In 1668, Newton succeeded in using a prism to divide white light into seven components. He invented the term “spectrum” to refer to the array of beautiful colors that results.Newton’s proposition — “What appears to us as white light is actually composed of many wavelengths” — would profoundly influence the later development of optics and lead to the discovery of light that is invisible to the eye; that is, ultraviolet and infrared.The seven colors of light released by Newton’s prism continue to shine on various corners of society even today, 350 years later.

Edison’s Thoughts on Making Things

Improving the incandescent light bulb and extending its life

Although known as the king of invention, the truth is that Edison did not actually invent the incandescent light bulb.His great achievement was to improve the light bulb, increasing its life enough for it to be put to practical use.He studied the reasons for the short life of incandescent filaments, and succeeded in increasing it by using slivers of bamboo which he obtained from Kyoto, Japan.He went on to launch the world’s first lighting business in New York in 1881.“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”This well-known quotation succinctly summarizes Edison's attitude toward invention.

Growing Plants with Invisible Light

A new solution to the problem of stimulating photosynthesis

Photosynthesis: The process by which plants produce oxygen and nutrients from carbon dioxide, water and the energy of light.Working in the 19th century, the German botanist Engelmann performed experiments to determine which wavelengths of light are most suited to producing oxygen.What he found is that infrared light of longer wavelength plays a much more important role in photosynthesis than does visible light.Through advances in this research, it is now known that whereas red light plays an important role in photosynthesis, blue light affects the formation of leaves.It has also been found that the production of nutrients can be controlled by irradiating plants with light of specific wavelengths during the growth stage.There is great mystery in the relationship between light and plants.We believe that a world of future possibilities can be realized by unraveling this mystery.

Light: The Next Chapterin the Human Story

Since ancient times, humans have been fascinated by light. It plays a role in many legends, and has been the object of reverence through generations.

In its efforts to employ light as energy as well as a source of illumination, Ushio has taken on a new challenge. Today, light is used in many different forms which have become an indispensable part of our daily lives.

For example, “light for electronics” plays an essential role in the manufacture of semiconductors and electronic components; “light for visual imaging” plays a role in art forms that surprise and delight; and “light for life science” plays a role in protecting and developing life and nature.

Light: It helps keep society safe, comfortable and secure.Staying true to the spirit of those who have gone before, we will continue to challenge the boundaries of light.

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The possibilities of light

The characteristics of light vary at different wavelengths.Discovering the characteristics of the various wavelengths and exercisingcontrol in order to use light as a tool: This is the job of Ushio’s technology.

Seven light varieties of Ushio

It's not the light source you choose,but the type of light:LED, lamp, laser, or EUV.

Customize

Light's applications have no bounds.Light source, to lightunit, to light system

Specifications

What do YOU want to build?And, light can change:Radiation intensity, irradiation area, light source size, operating life

Output

From small lights to large.Ranging from 10 watts,to 35 kilowatts

Temperature

From low temperature to high, light givescomplete flexibility of control.Room temperature to 3,000°C

Turning light into energy and illumination

The characteristics of light vary at different wavelengths.Discovering the characteristics of the various wavelengths and exercising control inorder to use light as a tool: This is the job of Ushio’s technology.

ELECTRONICS

Bringing light for creation of goods,culture and society.

Curing and Bonding

Aligning

Drawing

Cleaning

Inspecting

Heating

Measuring

LIFE SCIENCE

Making full use of its technology of light,Ushio makes a great contributionto health and the global environment.

A new challenge

Plastic clothespins left outside can become brittle and easy to break.Most people have experienced this.This is a result of the plastic being exposed to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.Using the chemical energy of ultraviolet light, it is possible to change substances at the molecular level and join them together.That is the power of UV curing and bonding technology.

Slim, beautiful and ecologically-friendly.The proliferation of mobile terminals such as Smartphones has been accompanied by increasing evolution of liquid crystal displays.The increased performance of such displays is backed up by Ushio’s photo-alignment technology for uniformly arranging liquid crystal molecules.

Semiconductors are used in all sorts of devices, from Smartphones and games to personal computers, appliances, and automobiles.Of the various processes used in manufacturing semiconductor devices, the most important is photolithography, the process of creating the fine patterns that form the circuits.In this tiny, nano-level world, Ushio light plays a big role.

Contamination at the molecular level can affect product performance and quality. Consequently, with microfabrication of semiconductors at the micron and nano level, cleaning can comprise up to a third of the overall production process.Removing invisible contaminants with invisible light:This is a cleaning process that is possible thanks to Ushio’s optical technology.

From cosmetics to semiconductors, all sorts of products must undergo inspection prior to shipment.Different inspection methods are required with different sorts of products.Examining and detecting in the micro-world.This is also a job for Ushio light.

Infrared rays are not hot.Contrary to the mistaken belief of many people, the infrared rays emitted by objects such as stoves are not hot of themselves. So, why do they feel warm?The answer to that question is closely related to the nature of light.

We’ll conclude our discussion of electronics with “measuring light.”Here we will discuss a somewhat different specialty of Ushio’s than those mentioned previously, all of which involve putting light to work in one form or another.

Light sources

The field of Ushio’s light is not limited to production processes for semiconductors and liquid crystal displays. We also literally throw a strong light on daily life. For example, this includes light sources in essential office automation equipment, in stage lighting and in movie theaters, and in lighting of public facilities, commercial estab-lishments and amusement parks. Ushio light permeates the entire world, making each day brighter in many different ways. Let’s listen to the voices of those who work behind the scenes to develop the Ushio light that has achieved a revolution in visual imaging in so many different fields.

Systems

The light that drives back darkness has been a wellspring of imagination since ancient times, serving in shadow plays and magic lanterns and giving birth to a infinite range of stories about light. Filmmaking is the apex of this tradition. As a member of the Ushio group, Christie Digital Systems continues advancing together with the filmmaking indus-try as it revolutionizes the art of cinema expression with leading edge technology.We asked about its future course and prospects.

Projection mappingStarlight spectacular(CANADA)

Mountain at the center of Wonderland entrances visitors with a different aspect than can be seen by day. Butterflies fluttering over a rainbow’s arch, and the image on the mountain makes it seem like it might spring forth in a dance, giving rise in viewers to surprise and excitement.

TOP

Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Projection mappingSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

Around 50 projectors give a new look to this historic structure. This glittering night-time show depicts the Islamic calendar and the cycle of the moon and stars, a fitting celebration of the UAE’s 40th anniversary.

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Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Projection mappingUniversal Studios Japan®(JAPAN)

“The Gift of Angels II – The Song of an Angel –”, one of the Christmas attractions at Universal Wonder Christmas. Images cast by a total of 31 projectors are synchronized with the movements of performers, drawing park visitors into a dramatic new world.

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Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Projection mappingSydney Opera House(AUSTRALIA)

Grand images decorated the first performance of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, giving a fresh look to the unique geometry of Australia’s famous opera house.

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Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Landscape illuminationDojima Ohashi(JAPAN)

The Dojima Ohashi was illuminated as part of the “Aqua Metropolis of the Light” project in Osaka. This project took advantage of the bridge’s graceful steel structure and stone arch shape in a manner designed to complement the span’s surroundings. Starting at sunset and extending into the night, colors projected onto the bridge were gradually changed as part of a daily performance, and infrared sensors were used to detect approaching boats, triggering color variations in a performance that incorporated both the bridge and its reflection in the river.

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Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Landscape illuminationToranomon Hills MORI Tower(JAPAN)

A symbolic representation of the design concepts of “Wa” (circle) and “Itadaki” (apex). The message changes every season, decorating the metropolitan nights.

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Projection mapping

Landscape illumination

Digital signage, virtual reality, sports lighting

Landscape illuminationJR Hokkaido Otaru Station(JAPAN)

Illumination of JR Hokkaido Otaru Station, a building designated as an important cultural property, has been converted to LED lighting. The incandescent light bulbs used in fixtures have been replaced with LED filament bulbs, maintaining the nostalgic atmosphere of the historic building by replicating the illumination of old-fashioned lighting while achieving lower power consumption and longer life.

At any given time, the air is filled with tens of thousands of aircraft. Supporting the safety of all these flights, a high-brightness, high-performance 3D stereo system provides a 3-dimensional view of more information than could be conveyed by former systems. This has made it possible to achieve 3-dimensional prediction that exceeds attempts at simulation.

An installation panelized in wood decorates the lobby where educators and students, staff and visitors gather. Here, 48 MicroTiles™ highlight the proud appeal of the University’s leading technology and services.

Sports lighting accentuates the dynamism of athletic power. Subtle adjustments in lighting minimize interference with play, allowing play and viewing that differ in no way from daytime events for either competitors or fans.